Handbell choir concert on Dec. 1

fosters.com

Writer

Posted Nov. 29, 2012 at 3:15 AM

Posted Nov. 29, 2012 at 3:15 AM

ROCHESTER — Granite State Ringers, New Hampshire’s only community bronze handbell choir, is pleased to announce an audience interactive concert Dec. 1, at 7 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church, 34 South Main St. This event is open to the general public. Admission is a suggested donation of $10 per person.

Led by director, Joan Fossum, this concert will feature a variety of holiday music including Martha Lynn Thompson’s arrangement of Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride”, Hark the Herald Angels Sing” composed by Felix Mendelssohn and arranged by Cathy Moklebust, Sherman’s arrangement of “Carol of the Bells”, and “All I Want for Christmas” composed by Donald Gardner and arranged by Matthew Prins. Granite State Ringers will perform the first half of the concert. Children between the ages of 5 and 18 will then have the opportunity to play alongside GSR during the second half. A child volunteer, selected at random, will also have the chance to be choir director.

For those who are not familiar with handbells, think of a handbell choir like the keys on a piano. Each person in the choir controls a few piano keys. The more octaves of bells you have, the more people are needed. The bells are kept in order like a key board – lowest to highest – in chromatic order.

Handbell and handchime ringing is a great way for people of all ages to have an opportunity to experience the joy of music. Even very young children with little or no musical experience can participate by copying rhythms and playing simple melodies. Handbell ringing can offer all people the chance to learn the basics while building confidence and music appreciation.

Granite State Ringers, a non-profit organization, was formed in 2007 with the mission to offer dedicated handbell ringers the opportunity to promote and perform a varied handbell repertoire and to educate the public about handbells. Granite State Ringers performs using five octaves of Malmark Handbells and five and a half octaves of Malmark Handchimes.